Vacuum roller attachment



Sept. 8, 1964 R. G. SIEB 3,147,509

VACUUM ROLLER ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT 6. .S/E

United States Patent O The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to an attachment for cleaning hard to reach areas .such as high walls, ceilings and the like.

During recent years more and more use has been made of acoustic tile and the like by the building industry. Wall partitions are constructed using acoustic paneling members and ceilings are assembled from acoustic tile members. The fragility of these members prevents them from being cleaned by ordinary means. The present invention provides a device for cleaning acoustic tile ceilings and walls and the like without danger of damage. .l It is an'object of the present invention to facilitate the cleaning of hard to reach places such as high walls, ceilings and the like by providing a device adapted for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and having an elongated handle portion and cleaning means disposed at the free end thereof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce damage to ceilings and walls of acoustic tile and the like by providing means for cleaning same comprising a porous roller adapted to be rolled along the wall or ceiling to be cleaned and means adapted for connecting the roller with a vacuum cleaner.

It is still another object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of roller type cleaning attachments for vacuum cleaners by providing adjustable means for directing the air flow or vacuum produced by such cleaners toward the particular area being cleaned.

Other 'objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which,

FIG. l is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with portions shown in section for purposes of clarity,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. l with portions shown in Section and certain elements shown in exploded position for purposes of clarity, and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 o-f FIG. 1.

Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention a preferred device is illustrated as comprising a tubular handle member 10. As can best be seen in FIG. 2 the handle member 10 preferably comprises an elongated straight portion 11 terminating in an end portion 12 adapted for connection to a suction hose 13 of a vacuum cleaner (not shown).

The handle member is preferably bent as at 15 and 16 to provide a substantially cylindrical end portion 17. The end portion 17 is connected with the straight portion 11 by a medial curved portion 18 so that the axis of the end portion 17 is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the straight portion 11.

A plurality of axially and annularly spaced perforations 20 'are provided in the end portion 17 and a cylindrical sleeve member 21 is carried on the end portion 17 overlying the perforations 20. If desired, the sleeve member 21 could be disposed within the perforated portion 17, and will operate in the same fashion as hereafter described. The sleeve member 21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 22. A relatively soft porous cylindrical roller member 23 is carried on the sleeve member 21 and preferably a pair of spaced bushings 24-25 permit the roller member i ice 23 to rotate readily relative to the sleeve member 21. It has been preferred to construct the roller member 23 of a rubberized horse hair material although it is apparent that other relatively soft porous materials could be used as Well. An annular shoulder 24 is preferably provided on the handle member 10 to limit inward axial movement of the roller member 23 and the sleeve member 21.

A cap member 26 is adapted to be inserted in the end of the sleeve member 21 and is provided with an annular projection 27 which is adapted to extend into the slot 22 so that rotation of the cap member 25 produces rotation of the sleeve member 21 relative to the end portion 17. The cap member 26 is provided with an indicator arrow 28 which indicates the position of the slot 22.

The present invention provides a device which can be attached to an ordinary vacuum cleaner and can be used to clean ceilings and walls and other hard to reach places. The porous roller 23 will roll over the surface to be cleaned without causing damage or leaving marks. The sleeve member 21 is dirnensioned to frictionally engage the end portion 17 so that it will remain in the desired position as the roller member 23 rotates. The cap member 26 is manually rotated to move the slot 22 to the desired position. In this way the air flow produced by the vacuum cleaner can be concentrated on the working area. The adjustment of the sleeve member 21 facilitates the use of the device with different height ceilings and walls and permits either a right hand or left hand approach to these surfaces. The arrow 28 gives an observable indication of the position of the slot 22 at all times.

It is apparent that the device of the present invention can be used to either loosen stubborn dirt by blowing air lthrough the open perforations 20 and the roller 23 or a vacuum can be used to suck rthe dirt through the porous roller 23 and into the handle member 11, thence to the Vacuum cleaner tank or bag (not shown). l

It is also apparent that although I have described but a single embodiment of my invention various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device adapted for connection with the suction hose of a vacuum cleaner, said device comprising (a) an elongated tubular handle member having one end adapted for connection to said suction hose,

(b) the other end of said tubular handle member being straight and being provided with a plurality of annularly and axially spaced perforations,

(c) a cylindrical member substantially coaxial with and encompassing said straight end of said handle member and being frictionally engaged therewith,

(d) a porous cylindrical roller member substantially coaxial with and encompassing said cylindrical member,

(e) means carried by said cylindrical member mounting said roller member for rotation thereof with respect to said cylindrical member and said straight end of said handle member and (f) said cylindrical member being provided with an elongated axially extending slot registering with at least some of said perforations whereby airilow produced by said vacuum cleaner is directed by said cylinder member through those perforations uncovered by said slot and through said roller member.

2. The device as defined in claim l and including means carried at the free end of said straight end for selectively rotating said cylindrical member with respect to said straight end whereby to change the position of said slot and direct airow through different perforations of said handle member.

3. A device for use with a vacuum cleaner having a suction hose, said device comprising,

(a) a tubular handle member having an elongated straight end portion adapted for connection with said suction hose,

(b) said handle member also being provided with a substantially cylindrical end portion having an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said straight end portion,

(c) said cylindrical end portion being provided with a plurality of axially and annularly spaced perforations, Y

(d) a cylindrical sleeve member inserted over said cylindrical end portion of said handle member and substantially coaxial therewith and frictionally engaged therewith to resist relative rotational movement of said sleeve member with respect to said cylindrical end portion,

(e) a porous cylindrical roller member inserted over said sleeve member and substantially coaxial therewith and means rotatably mounting said roller member with respect to said sleeve member,

U) said sleeve member being provided with an elongated axially extending .slot registering with at least some of said perforations whereby airflow produced by said vacuum cleaner is vdirected through said perforations, through said slot and through said porous roller member.

4. The device as deiined in claim 3 and including means operatively connected with said sleeve member for selectively rotating said sleeve member about said cylindrical end portion to change the position of said slot.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 and including means operatively connected with said sleeve member to indicate the position of said slot.

6. A device for use with an airilow producing means and comprising (a) a substantially cylindrical member having a plurality of axially and annularly spaced perforations,

(b) conduit means adapted for connection at one end with said airilow producing means and having the opposite end connected with the interior of said cylindrical member,

(c) a cylindrical porous roller member substantially coaxial with and encompassing said perforated cylindrical member and means carrying said porous roller member for rotational movement about said cylindrical member,

(d) a cylindrical sleeve member substantially coaxial with and carried intermediate said cylindrical member and said roller member,

(e) said sleeve member supporting said carrying means and said roller member being rotatable about said sleeve member,

(f) said sleeve member being frictionally engaged with said cylindrical member whereby to resist rotational movement with respect thereto,

(g) a longitudinal slot being provided in said sleeve member registering with a portion of said perforations whereby airiiow produced by said airflow producing means is directed by said slot through only a portion of said perforations, and through said porous roller member.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 and including means frictionally carried in the end of said sleeve member and having a projection engaging the sides of said slot Whereby said sleeve member can be selectively rotated with respect to said cylindrical member to change the position of said slot.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 and including an indicator carried by said last mentioned means to indicate the position of said slot.

9. A device for use with an airflow producing means and comprising (a) a substantially cylindrical member having a plurality of axially and annularly spaced perforations,

(b) conduit means adapted for connection at one end with said airow producing means and having the opposite end connected with the interior of said cylindrical member,

(c) a cylindrical porous roller member substantially coaxial with and encompassing said cylindrical member and means carrying said porous roller member for rotational movement about said cylindrical member,

(d) a cylindrical sleeve member carried in a position axially aligned with said cylindrical member and having a substantially cylindrical surface frictionally engaged with a cylindrical surface of said cylindrical member whereby to resist relative rotational movement therebetween,

(e) a longitudinal slot being provided in said sleeve member registering with at least some of said perforations whereby airflow from said airflow producing means is directed by said slot through only a portion `of said perforations and through said porous roller member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,774 Scheffer Oct. 5, 1926 2,751,618 Pruitt June 26, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,797 Great Britain Mar. 2l, 1906 

1. A DEVICE ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH THE SUCTION HOSE OF A VACUUM CLEANER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER HAVING ONE END ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO SAID SUCTION HOSE, (B) THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER BEING STRAIGHT AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY AND AXIALLY SPACED PERFORATIONS, (C) A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH AND ENCOMPASSING SAID STRAIGHT END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER AND BEING FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED THEREWITH, (D) A POROUS CYLINDRICAL ROLLER MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH AND ENCOMPASSING SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, (E) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER MOUNTING SAID ROLLER MEMBER FOR ROTATION THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND SAID STRAIGHT END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER AND (F) SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOT REGISTERING WITH AT LEAST SOME OF SAID PERFORATIONS WHEREBY AIRFLOW PRODUCED BY SAID VACUUM CLEANER IS DIRECTED BY SAID CYLINDER MEMBER THROUGH THOSE PERFORATIONS UNCOVERED BY SAID SLOT AND THROUGH SAID ROLLER MEMBER. 